On Wayne Rooney;

“The issue you’re all going on about in the papers is absolute rubbish. I’ve banned two papers from the press conference and they won’t get back in here until they apologise. There is absolutely no issue between Wayne Rooney and I. To suggest we don’t talk to each other on the training ground is absolute nonsense.”

The reasons for dropping him;

“He understood the reasons for not playing him and that was completely tactical. And I think I was right. We don’t always get it right but I think we did get it right. Danny Welbeck is the best player we have in terms of operating in a double role.”

“We had to choke Xabi Alonso’s ability to control the game, which Danny did, and that took away Alonso’s control of the game and his ability to go further forward and be an attacking player. We don’t always get it right but we definitely did on Tuesday.”

Where will Rooney be next season;

“Wayne will be here next year. You have my word on that. I have no issues at all with the player and he’ll be involved on Sunday.”